Update on School

As the communicator for the Mann family I thought it would be a good idea to give an update on Anthony's school. He is now about two months into PA school and is doing very well. His first grad school test ended with him getting a 40. Not a 40%, but 40 out of 40 correct. To hear him talk about he almost had heart failure when he saw the 40 is funny. He assumed it was % and not number of questions right. Once he started breathing again he realized he did not fail his first test, but actually got a 100%.

Since that first test he has continued to only get A's and a small number of B's. He studies everyday and is working so hard. He tells me he is a much better student now than he was his senior year at Doane. For all you Doane guys you know what I am talking about. He majored in Video Games his senior year :-) The other exciting news is that he was elected Vice President of his PA Society which was very exciting!

I guess the other school news is that I decided I didn't want to be the "uneducated" one of the pair and have decided to get my own Masters. Ha ha, just kidding. I decided that I do want a Masters and now is the best time to go for it. So starting in March 2010 I begin my Masters in Management. I know call me crazy, but no better time than now.

Night Shift

Well I survived my first 12 hour night shift. I came to work at 5:30pm on Friday evening and got off at 5:30am on Saturday morning. It was a long night, but it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I was worried that I would fall asleep at my desk, but by the grace of God I was able to stay awake. I don't know how alert I was, but I made it. I think one of the hardest things of the night was when I was coming on Friday evening and watching the rest of the normal working world leave for their weekend :-( Plus I am only doing this for four weeks, so there is an end in sight. And now it's night two and I am halfway through, woo hoo...

Change Is In The Air

The changing of seasons is happening, Fall has arrived. Yay! Fall is my favorite season, but honestly I think I just like the change. Some people I know (Anthony in particular) like stability and not big fans of change. And then there is me. I enjoy having a change. There is something about the newness of something different and variety. Don't want to get bored :-)

So not only is the season changing I am going to have a big change at work for 4 weeks. In my department there is one section that works 24 hours. Someone quit suddenly and they need someone to fill in until they get the job filled. They asked if I would be willing to do it for a short time and I said yes. It won't be my favorite to be working at night while the rest of the world sleeps, but it's only for a short time. I can work nights for 4 weeks, it's not really that long of a time. Plus I will learn some new things and I am all for that. So bring on the change...

I Heart Biking

Biking, lets be honest for anyone that knows me well you probably never thought you would see me write a blog about biking. About five years ago I had bought a mountain bike for an adventure race. Being the good teammate I tried to get out and practice since I really hadn't biked since being a kid. Well turns out I hated mountain biking for several reasons. The seat was incredibly uncomfortable, I didn't like "climbing" hills and first and foremost I thought I was going to die every time I went down hill. Not kidding you. One day I went out to some park outside of Council Bluffs with Kate, Nick and Billy. I was riding behind Billy and we started to go down a size able downhill that had tree stumps and switchbacks. Not surprisingly I lost control of the bike. As I started careening down the hill, yelling to Billy to get out the way so I didn't hit him, I ended up going over the handle bars head first. That ended my biking career right there!

Fast forward to fall of 2008. Anthony had just got a road bike and he wanted me to get one so that we can ride together. I was a little hesitant from my previous biking experiences. I didn't want to spend all the money on a bike if I was going to hate it. After thinking about it for a little while I decided to go for it. We found a great bike for a good deal in December and my biking career began. This time a road bike though and I wouldn't have to worry about going downhill and having to avoid tree stumps. Road bike seats are probably just as uncomfortable if not more uncomfortable than seats on mountain bikes, but this time I spent the money and got some of those stylish spandex shorts with padding in the butt! Um yeah horrible, but they make all the difference on the bike.

I have been riding my bike this spring and summer and just loved it. I am so glad I gave it a chance. I love being able to bike or walk and it's fun to go so fast on the bike. Yesterday I rode 22 miles in 1 hour 20 minutes. I passed a ton of bikers and did not get passed at all, I know my competitive side comes out and I try to push myself :-) Plus it is something Anthony and I will be able to do as we age and our bodies slowly deteriorate on us. So if you thought of giving biking a chance go for it! From someone that once hated biking to now being a bike enthusiast. It's totally worth it to get a bike.

One Week In

Anthony started school last week and is officially a week and counting in! Now only roughly 150 more weeks to go. Overall class has been going well for him. It is a huge adjustment being a full time student again and the commute to Lincoln each day is tiring already. The good news is he has someone to carpool with so that helps with the commute and gas money. The books are thick and weigh a ton. He was joking around that he might need a suitcase to carry everything he needs. I can't help but smirk at the idea of him walking in with a backpack on wheels that is rolling in behind him, ha ha...

I am adjusting as well. Lets just say I have a little more time to occupy myself since he is studying regularly. So I have been reading more. I know this confirms my nerd status even more, but I have already read Darth Bane - The Path of Destruction and am halfway through Darth Bane - The Rule of Two :-) For those of you who don't know who Darth Bane is let me tell you. He was a Sith Lord during the Old Republic times. For those who still don't know what I am referring to, they are Star Wars books. Anthony loves that I am reading the books. The third in the trilogy will be coming out this winter and we will be fighting over who gets to read it first! I am sure it will be a welcome diversion for him. Star Wars is much more exciting than Human Anatomy or Ethics!

The Start of New Journey

In two weeks from today Anthony starts school to get his masters and become a Physician's Assistant. I am thrilled for him and excited to see his dream of practicing medicine becoming a reality. It's hard to believe that last year (august 08) at this time he was frantically scrambling to take the GRE and finish the CASPA application for PA school. It was a year and a half ago (April 08) that he had started the process of finishing pre-reqs and researching what schools he wanted to apply to. It wasn't the easiest road getting to this spot. All the while wondering would he get in and where would he get in? Would we be living in Omaha or would we have to move? If he doesn't get in, does he try again? Anthony and I agree that God has been good and faithful to us the whole way. We have seen countless prayers answered and both have grown in maturity.


It was a journey getting to this spot and as we continue on this road we know the "real work" is about to begin. Getting into school was hard, but the classes and studying is going to be another level of intensity. School is expensive and we will be living on one income instead of two. We have done our best to prepare, but there will some sacrifices ( No more bikes will be added to the collection :). Time with friends and family will probably be less. And we will be waiting to start a family. All worthwhile and seemingly so small of sacrifices in the grand scheme of things.

So bring on the change. Let this next journey of life begin. There will be ups and downs. There will be good days and hard days, but I know without a shadow of doubt the Lord is with us each step of the way and it's going to be worth it. I have continual joy and peace as I walk forward in life. Thanking the Lord the whole way because He has been so good to me and Anthony. I look forward to looking back someday and telling how the Lord was with us during that time of our life. Because He will be there each step of the way.